Today, I speak not only as an artist but as a son of Iran—on behalf of all the oppressed and downtrodden people of the world.
My nation stands firm and resists against Israel, which kills children, and against the hegemonic policies of the United States.
This war is not simply a clash of armies; it is a struggle between truth and falsehood.
Its battlefield extends into the homes of defenseless families, the wards of hospitals, and the classrooms of children whose only refuge is hope.
Despite violence and relentless pressure, the people of Iran remain steadfast.
From leaders and pioneers to innocent schoolchildren, all are part of this story of resistance -- a nation that has refused to bow its head under force.
The major global powers have mobilized their strength to redraw the map of the Middle East, seize resources, and expand dominance.
Yet in these very days, the resistance of Iran’s people and fighters has shown that the will of a nation can stand even against the greatest superpowers.
History will bear witness: through determination, unity, and solidarity, a nation resisted immense global pressure.
And in this moment, it is the responsibility of thinkers, writers, artists, and free‑minded individuals everywhere not to remain silent.
They must defend truth, justice, and human dignity with their pen, thought, and art.
Today, more than ever, moral responsibility in the face of oppression has become clear.
I am certain that countless hearts across the world stand in solidarity with Iran, because our demand is nothing but independence, dignity, and resistance against injustice.
Today is a day of awakening -- a day when free consciences rise, when free people stand against oppression, and when human dignity is defended.
Majid Majidi is an acclaimed Iranian filmmaker, best known internationally for his Oscar‑nominated film Children of Heaven (1997). Born in Tehran in 1959, he has built a career exploring themes of humanity, spirituality, and social struggle through award‑winning works such as The Color of Paradise and Muhammad: The Messenger of God.